Mission Statement Carl Koch’s belief that he was “just a steward of the finances given by God to use on His behalf” inspired the commitment he and his wife, Paula, made to founding the Koch Foundation in 1979. The Foundation’s goals are to strengthen and to propagate the Roman Catholic faith by providing grant support for a wide variety of evangelization efforts. In considering applications, major emphasis is placed on sound but financially needy evangelical programs. The Koch Foundation is international in scope with no geographical preference. Carl and Paula Koch 2 Letter From The Executive Director The Holy Father has called for a Year of Faith from 11 October 2012 until 24 November 2013, the Solemnity of Christ the King. This Year of Faith coincides with two important anniversaries of our Church: the 50th anniversary of the opening of Vatican Council II, called by Blessed Pope John XXIII on 11 October 1962 and the 20th anniversary of the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church by Blessed Pope John Paul II on 11 October 1992. Pope Benedict XVI encourages each of us to familiarize ourselves with some of the basic documents that followed the council. He suggests we begin with Gaudium Et Spec and include some of the encyclicals of John Paul II, such as Laboren Exercents and Sollicitude Rei Socialis. Participation in these components of the Year of Faith will provide us, as Disciples of Christ, with the means to enhance our understanding of the foundations of our faith. Becoming familiar with the Catechism of the Catholic Church during the Year of Faith will lead us naturally to be more effective witnesses to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The catechism speaks of the tradition of the Church but its language responds to contemporary issues. As we gain more confidence in our understanding of our faith, we may feel more comfortable in sharing the faith with others. We can also witness our faith by committing ourselves to daily recitation of the Rosary, wearing a crucifix or attending a Bible study offered at our parish. The Year of Faith should, as Pope Benedict XVI states, “…contribute to a renewed conversion to the Lord Jesus, so that the members of the Church will be joy-filled witnesses to the Risen Lord…” The Year of Faith itself is a witness to the new evangelization which is at the core of the Koch Foundation. We do not have to wait until the start of the celebration of the Year of Faith to begin witnessing to the world our love of Christ. We can begin by participating more frequently in the Eucharist and giving assistance to our brothers and sisters in need. All we have to do is to follow the Holy Father’s call to renew our friendship with Christ and let Him strengthen our faith. Only then can we share our joy in Him with confidence and proclaim the new evangelization to the world. In Christ’s Name, Carolyn Young 3 Year of the Faith Annual Report Introduction Pope Benedict XVI has declared October 2012 through November of 2013 “the Year of Faith,” a special celebration for all Catholics to renew their conversion to the Lord and reaffirm their faith in Christ. During this special year, His Holiness is hoping to see an increased focus on the liturgy, especially the Eucharist and the celebration of the mystery of the faith as the source of the new evangelization. This special observance also coincides with the anniversaries of two major events in the life of the Church: the fiftieth anniversary of the Second Vatican Council opened by Blessed Pope John XXIII in 1962 and the twentieth anniversary of the first publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in 1992. The Holy Father wants the Year of the Faith to focus on a better understanding of the Council and the Catechism of the Church, “making it more widely and deeply known” throughout the Church. The Year of the Faith will target the need to not only study the Catechism of the Church but also for us to gain a better understanding of the Creed, Liturgy, and Catholic way of life and prayer so that we may see the face of Christ in everyone we encounter. Knowing that Christ is our Savior is a basic tenet of our Faith and, through a thorough knowledge and understanding of our beliefs, we become more confident in inviting others to join and experience His love. Unfortunately, many Catholics are unaware of what the Catholic Church actually teaches. Some practice “cafeteria style” Catholicism, choosing which parts of the faith they wish to follow, while others profess the Creed but live their faith only through attendance at Mass. Both of these practices confirm what the Second Vatican Council warned of—separation of faith and life. During this period we are invited to deepen and further our relationship with God as part of our daily lives. We are called to reflect on our individual responsibility to authentically receive God so that, by becoming beacons of His light, we may collectively brighten an increasingly dim path to His love. In his apostolic letter explaining the Year of Faith, Pope Benedict XVI states, “The Door of Faith is always open.” It starts with our Baptism and continues to usher us into our faith through the reception of the Sacraments. We live in a new missionary age and our faith is a gift to rediscover, cultivate, and witness to a new generation. As the Holy Father explains, “faith and charity require each other” and thus our hearts, minds, and actions must be unified if we are to open the Door of Faith to others. As we join His Holiness in reviewing the Catechism of the Catholic Church, may its words reignite and fortify the flames of faith within us. A facsimile of this fire, however beautiful, can never spread the same light or warmth. During this year, let us choose always the wonders of grace over “saving face” and answer by both action and word to all those who inquire “Are you Christ’s companion?” with a firm and resounding “Yes!” 4 Direct Evangelization “Peter replied, ‘Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.’” Acts 2:38 The Year of the Faith is meant to be a time of personal renewal through rediscovery of the tenets of the Church. Faith invites us to open ourselves fully to God’s love, the Holy Father reminds us, but this gift can only be accepted through intimate knowledge of Christ’s creed. Only through this knowledge can we become truly effective catechists and live according to His word. Once cleansed anew by the power of the Holy Spirit, we may then, together, reflect the light of His glory to those searching in darkness and evangelize the world. The Koch Foundation funds Direct Evangelization programs and religious activities that directly support, strengthen, and spread the Catholic proclamation of Christ’s Gospel. Kim Ngoc Parish - Binh Thuan, Viet Nam Dominican Sisters, Congregation of Blessed Imelda - Bratislava, Slovakia Adoration Sisters of the Holy Face of Jesus -Mabolo, Philippines 5 Direct Evangelization Talitha Kum Children’s Home. Nyahururu, Kenya . $15,000.00 Sacred Heart of Jesus Missionary Sisters. New York, New York, USA. $11,500.00 Congregation of the Sisters of the Eucharistic Jesus. Kaunas, Lithuania. $10,000.00 Beaumont Diocese . Beaumont, Texas, USA. $15,000.00 Los Angeles Archdiocese . Los Angeles, California, USA. $20,000.00 St. Joseph Church. Waite Park, Minnesota, USA . $10,000.00 Life Experience & Faith Sharing Association. New York, New York, USA. $15,234.00 St. William Catholic Church . Keystone Heights, Florida, USA. $11,000.00 Healy-Murphy Center. San Antonio, Texas, USA . $15,000.00 Baker Diocese . Bend, Oregon, USA . $15,000.00 Don Bosco Mission Complex. Andhra Pradesh, India. $15,000.00 Order of Friars Minor, Venetian Province of St. Anthony of Padua . Vittorio Veneto (Treviso), Italy. $15,000.00 Franciscan Spiritual Center . Milwaukie, Oregon, USA . $15,000.00 Chanda Diocese. Maharashtra, India. $10,000.00 Kurnool Diocese. Andhra Pradesh, India. $10,000.00 Missionary Sisters of Therese of the Child Jesus . Iringa, Tanzania. $5,000.00 St. John’s Secondary School. Sekondi, Western Region, Ghana. $7,000.00 Przemysl Archdiocese . Przemysl, Poland. $10,000.00 Guest House, Inc. Lake Orion, Michigan, USA. $10,000.00 Dismas Ministry, Inc. Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA . $25,000.00 Sisters of the Holy Faith . Downey, California, USA . $19,400.00 Catholic Rural Ministry II, Oil City Deanery. Oil City, Pennsylvania, USA. $15,000.00 Redemptoristine Nuns (Order of the Most Holy Redeemer), Cebu Archdiocese. Cebu City, Philippines. $19,000.00 Holy Trinity Church . Nairobi, Kenya. $15,000.00 Holy Child Senior High School. Cape Coast, Ghana. $10,000.00 All Hallows College. Dublin, Ireland . $20,000.00 Union of Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Co. Kildare, Ireland. $15,000.00 Dindigul Catholic Diocesan Society. Tamil Nadu, India. $9,000.00 St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Booneville, Mississippi, USA . $15,000.00 Diocese of St. Augustine. Jacksonville, Florida, USA. $14,990.00 Vicariato Apostolico de Camiri. Camiri, Bolivia. $15,000.00 St. Felix of Cantalice Sisters, Mother of God Queen of Poland Province . Warsaw, Poland. $15,000.00 St. Francis of Assisi Church. Aberdeen, Mississippi, USA . $10,000.00 Mary Immaculate Church, Pacoima. Pacoima, California, USA . $15,000.00 Reno Diocese. Reno, Nevada, USA. $20,000.00 Glenmary Home Missioners.